Tehran, 24 October 2008 - At yesterday’s celebrations marking Austria’s national holiday, the Austrian ambassador to Tehran, Dr. Michael Postl, presented composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian with the Decoration of Merit in Gold of the Republic of Austria. In his speech the ambassador pointed out that Loris Tjeknavorian’s entire career had always been related to Austria despite the fact that he had acquired Austrian citizenship rather late, under the Kreisky government.

Loris Tjeknavorian studied in Tehran and Vienna and taught music theory at the Tehran Conservatory when he was still a young man. Ambassador Postl highlighted Loris Tjeknavorian’s close cooperation with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF during his time with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, particularly for the "Licht ins Dunkel" charity appeal programme. For this reason alone official circles in Austria were particularly indebted to him.

Loris Tjeknavorian has written over 75 works, including symphonies, operas, piano concertos and chamber music. He has conducted numerous world renowned orchestras that have also performed his compositions. Tjeknavorian lived in Vienna mainly in the nineteen-nineties; subsequently he spent most of his time in Armenia, but now once more intends to devote more time to Austria, his musical home.